ROSEN Group and ASME Foundation Announce Winners of the 2026 Hermann Rosen Award for Pipeline Innovation

Their project addresses one of the growing challenges facing pipeline infrastructure worldwide: the impact of climatedriven geohazards and evolving ground deformation. By combining satellite-based monitoring, engineering mechanics, and advanced analytical tools, PIPEGEO provides a scalable framework that enables operators to better understand, assess, and manage geohazard-related risks before they threaten pipeline integrity.

Selected from a competitive international applicant pool, the project stood out for its combination of scientific rigor, engineering excellence, practical applicability, and potential industry impact. The winning team emerged through a multi-stage evaluation process involving industry experts from ROSEN and the ASME Pipeline Systems Division. 

Innovation With Real-World Impact

The PIPEGEO project was recognized for its innovative approach to addressing geohazard-related integrity challenges. By combining advanced engineering expertise with practical application, the team developed a solution that enables operators to better understand geohazards and support more informed integrity management decisions. Their achievement reflects the innovative thinking, technical rigor, and commitment to industry advancement that the Hermann Rosen Award seeks to recognize.

Erik Cornelissen, Chief Customer Officer of ROSEN Group, headquartered in Stans, Switzerland, highlighted the importance of aligning innovation with customer and market needs: “True innovation creates value when it addresses customer needs and emerging market challenges. As our industry faces increasingly complex integrity and geohazard risks, solutions like PIPEGEO help pipeline operators manage their assets effectively. It is an excellent example of innovation driven by market needs and focused on delivering value to the industry.”

"The quality of this year's submissions demonstrates the remarkable talent and creativity emerging across the global engineering community," said Stephanie Viola, Executive Director of the ASME Foundation and Managing Director of ASME Philanthropy and Programs. "The finalists demonstrated not only exceptional technical capabilities, but also the curiosity and determination needed to help shape the future of energy infrastructure. The PIPEGEO team's achievement highlights the impact that passionate and forward-thinking engineers can have on the pipeline industry." 
 

Honoring Hermann Rosen's Legacy

The Hermann Rosen Award for Pipeline Innovation was established in 2025 to recognize and support students, researchers, start-up founders, and early-career professionals whose ideas advance pipeline safety, integrity, and performance. Presented annually by the ASME Foundation and endowed by the ROSEN Group, the award includes a USD 25,000 prize to support the further development of the winning innovation.

The award reflects the principles that have defined ROSEN since its beginnings and honors its founder, Hermann Rosen: technical excellence, curiosity, and the courage to challenge established approaches. Hermann Rosen’s pioneering work continues to influence the industry and inspire innovators around the world.

By recognizing emerging talent and providing a platform for promising ideas, the award helps connect innovation with real-world industry challenges while supporting the future of pipeline and energy transportation. While the award recognizes a single winning project, it also celebrates the ambition, creativity, and technical excellence demonstrated by all participants whose ideas contribute to the future of pipeline and energy transportation.